So this album has kind of a cute shtick to it. Side A, “A Time To Laugh”, is a selection of witty and fun moments form Terry’s concerts. Side B “A Time To Sing” is a selection of new tracks from Terry. I have heard some of Terry’s live work before and I didn’t find it particularly witty but obviously Terry has a great sense of humour and it’s great to hear it here. As for the new material there are actually a couple really good 70’s rock tracks here. Hollywood Lies absolutely kicks butt and wow I wish Terry would have perused this style of music as I much prefer it and wow, he was really good at it.
Tracklist 1 – Down To The Well – 5:04 2 – Intro – 1:07 3 – Bible Land – 4:44 4 – Lamplighter – 4:44 5 – Angels! – 4:01 6 – Sing Hallelujah! – 3:37 7 – Pleasin’ You Pleases Me – 3:04 8 – Never Let Yesterday – 3:19 9 – Hollywood Lies – 3:19 10 – Takin’ The Time – 2:15 11 – Father – 2:53
Well here’s the 1983 offering from the Talbot brothers. It’s pretty standard fare for them but there is a highlight on this album. The title track actually has an Eagles feel and it sounds like something from back in their Mason Proffit days. It’s actually good enough for me to add it to my regular rotation. The music may be Eagles but the lyrics are typical of what you would expect form them. That said this may actually be one of their best tracks since the Mason Proffit days.
Tracklist 1 – No Longer Strangers – 4:08 2 – He Is Risen – 2:42 3 – We Will Rise – 4:07 4 – Silence – 3:34 5 – Nature And Grace – 3:30 6 – Holy Father – 3:37 7 – Isaiah 58 – 5:06 8 – Lady Poverty – 4:10 9 – Hear Us Oh Lord – 4:10 10 – Few Be The Lovers – 4:22
Credits Arranged By [Orchestra] – Lee Holdridge Bass – Abraham Laboriel Cover – Stan Evenson Design Cover [Coordination] – B. Charlyne Hinesley Drums – Bill Maxwell Engineer – Darrel Powell, Mike Ross-Trevor Executive-Producer – Billy Ray Hearn Guitar, Vocals, Co-producer, Arranged By [Vocals] – John Michael Talbot, Terry Talbot Mastered By – Ken Pennell, Steve Hall Orchestra – National Philharmonic Orchestra Of London Performer – National Philharmonic Orchestra Of London Photography By – Mark Hanauer Written-By – John Michael Talbot, Terry Talbot
You may not know Mason Proffit but I’m guessing you do know John and Terry Talbot. Well before these brothers started their solo CCM career they formed a band called Mason Proffit. This is either their 2nd or 3rd album, I can’t really tell because they released 2 albums in 1971. I must admit this is the first album I heard from Mason Proffit and wow. I simply can’t believe this is the Talbot brothers. Now you probably already know I am not a fan of the brothers but that’s because their style of music is not for me. I do however recognize that they are some of the most talented artists in the CCM industry. They are fantastic musicians and prolific song writers, but I have a new respect for them after listening to this album. They were great folk/country/rock band back in the 70’s and this is a fantastic album. If you want to hear where the Talbot brothers started out you need to listen to this album.
Tracklist 1 – Michael Dodge – 2:57 2 – Hard Luck Woman – 2:54 3 – Children – 2:48 4 – Hokey Joe Pony – 2:22 5 – Flying Arrow – 3:30 6 – Old Joe Clark – 4:01 7 – Let Me Know Where You’re Goin’ – 2:29 8 – Melinda – 3:56 9 – Good Friend Of Mary’s – 2:44 10 – He Loves Them – 3:31 11 – Everybody Was Wrong – 5:47
Credits Acoustic Guitar – John Talbot, Terry Talbot Arranged By – Mason Proffit Artwork By [Cover Painting] – Julian Gilbert Banjo – John Talbot Bass – Tim Ayres Dobro – John Talbot Drums – Art Nash Electric Guitar – John Talbot, Terry Talbot Executive Producer – Bill Traut Fiddle – Terry Talbot Guitar – Ron Schuetter Mixed By [Remixed By] – Martin Feldman, Terry Talbot Other [Creative Assistance] – Ron Sales Percussion – Art Nash Photography By [Liner Photography] – Rich Dienethal Piano – Terry Talbot Producer – Mason Proffit Recorded By – Mal Davis, Martin Feldman Steel Guitar – John Talbot Vocals – John Talbot, Ron Schuetter, Terry Talbot
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Paragon Recording Studios Recorded At – Universal Recording Corp. Remixed At – Streeterville Studios Produced For – Dunwich Productions Published By – Rolling Meadows Music Made By – RCA Limited Mastered At – RCA Studios, Toronto
It it’s very difficult for me to talk about Terry’s albums. It’s not because they are bad, it’s because they all sound the same to me. Let there be no doubt that Terry is a great songwriter and musician but if you’re not a fan it all sounds the same from album to album. But that’s my problem and not his problem. Terry was a prolific songwriter and put out albums almost every single year. That is a lot of work and should be respected. Anyway here’s Terry’s offering for 1984.
Tracklist 1 – I Am He – 5:02 2 – I Saw Him – 5:34 3 – The Boat – 3:20 4 – Rose Of Sharon – 3:51 5 – Heights Of A Bended Knee – 3:43 6 – The Way The Truth The Life – 2:50 7 – Come Forth – 3:20 8 – Star Of David – 2:57 9 – Heal Me – 3:51
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Terry Talbot Arranged By [Additional] – Terry Talbot Arranged By [Synthesized Parts] – Denny Bouchard Art Direction – Stan Evenson Design* Backing Vocals – Matthew Ward (2), Nelly Greisen, Terry Talbot, Wendy Hofheimer Bass – Abraham Laboriel Cover, Coordinator – B. Charlyne Hinesley Design [Lyric Sheet Design] – John Taylor (62), Marlene Bergman Drums – Bill Maxwell Engineer [Additional] – Terry Talbot Engineer, Recorded By – Joe Bellamy, Ron Capone Liner Notes – Terry Talbot Mastered By – Ken Pennell, Steve Hall Mixed By – Ron Capone Photography By – Phil Fewsmith Producer – Terry Talbot Programmed By [Fairlight / Rhodes Chroma] – Rhett Lawrence Programmed By [Roland Jupiter 8 / Roland MCH] – Denny Bouchard Synthesizer – Denny Bouchard Written-By – Terry Talbot
Companies, etc. Record Company – Sparrow Records, Inc. Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation Published By – Birdwing Music Published By – Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc. Recorded At – Easter Song Studios Recorded At – Westwind Studio Mixed At – Westwind Studio Mastered At – Future Disc
This was one of the more boring Sparrow samplers. But in all honesty I was not the target market for this one. It was obviously more pointed at the worship crowd. Below I’ve listed the tracks and the album they came from;
1 – Steve Green – Lift Up A Song – Steve Green 2 – Debby Boone – Can You Reach My Friend – Surrender 3 – Wendell Burton – Spreading All Over The World – Closer 4 – Sheila Walsh – Surrendering – Triumph In The Air 5 – Terry Talbot – I Am He – Terry Talbot Sings Stories Of Jesus 6 – Phil Driscoll – I Exalt Thee – I Exalt Thee 7 – John Michael Talbot – Glory To Thee (O God Of Life) – The God Of Life 8 – Michele Pillar – Reign On Me – Reign On Me 9 – Dennis Agajanian – If You Say – Where Are The Heroes 10 – Steve Camp – Living In Laodicea – Fire And Ice
Tracklist 1 – Steve Green – Lift Up A Song – 2:29 2 – Debby Boone – Can You Reach My Friend – 4:07 3 – Wendell Burton – Spreading All Over The World – 3:06 4 – Sheila Walsh – Surrendering – 4:30 5 – Terry Talbot – I Am He – 5:01 6 – Phil Driscoll – I Exalt Thee – 4:05 7 – John Michael Talbot – Glory To Thee (O God Of Life) – 7:23 8 – Michele Pillar – Reign On Me – 3:05 9 – Dennis Agajanian – If You Say – 3:18 10 – Steve Camp – Living In Laodicea – 2:38
I find it so difficult to review Terry’s albums. To me they all sound very similar as I just don’t love his style of music. That said I have great respect for Terry as an artist. He put out an album almost every year through the 80’s which is a lot of work considering he writes almost all of his songs. HIs guitar work is also very good so I really hate saying “Here’s another Terry album ……” He really deserves more of my respect but I just struggle with his style but that’s a personal problem. There are a few upbeat tracks on this album that I thought were pretty good but his vocals just don’t suit them in my opinion. Anyway Here’s another Terry album for his fans and I know he has lots of them.
Tracklist 1 – Face To Face – 3:40 2 – Mighty Rushing Wind – 4:14 3 – So As You’ve Done – 4:18 4 – I Have Overcome – 4:17 5 – The Christ – 4:22 6 – Lay Down The Stones – 3:56 7 – Father’s House – 4:06 8 – Narrow Is The Gate – 4:20 9 – Greater Things – 4:49
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Terry Talbot Bass – Abraham Laboriel Design – Jim Shanman (tracks: Lyric Sheet), Stan Evenson (tracks: Album Jacket) Design [Album Jacket Design By] – Stan Evenson Design, Inc.* Drums – Bill Maxwell Dulcimer – Carol Koening Engineer – Mike Ross-Trevor, Ron Capone, Win Kutz Executive-Producer – John Michael Talbot Mastered By – Herb Melton, Steve Hall Orchestrated By – Denney Bouchard Percussion – Alex Acuña Photography By – Raul Vega Producer – Terry Talbot Songwriter – Terry Talbot Synthesizer – Denney Bouchard Twelve-String Guitar – John Michael Talbot (tracks: A1, B2), Terry Talbot Vocals – Howard Smith, Karla Thibodeau, Steve Amerson, Tata Vega, Terry Talbot, Wendy Talbot
Sometimes these Sparrow samplers bewildered me and this one is one of them. How you can have Rez Band, Steve Taylor, and John Michael Talbot on the same sampler? I well remember us buying these samplers for 1 or 2 tracks and I bet a lot of people bought this one with the same intent. Anyway below I have listed all the tracks and their associated albums;
1 – Steve Camp – Help Is On The Way – Shake Me To Wake Me 2 – Connie Scott – Spirit Mover – Spirit Mover 3 – Silverwind – I’m Gonna Follow You – I’m Gonna Follow You 4 – Rick Cua – You’ve Only Got One Life – You’re My Road 5 – Steve Taylor – I Just Wanna Know – On The Fritz 6 – Michael Card – Come To The Table – Known By The Scars 7 – Terry Talbot – Mighty Rushing Wind – Face To Face 8 – AD – The Only Way To Have A Friend – Art Of The State 9 – Debby Boone – Teach Me How To Love – Choose Life 10 – Phil Driscoll – Jesus I Love You – Power Of Praise 11 – Wendy & Mary – Around The Walls – Battle Of The Heart 12 – Sheila Walsh – Light Across The World – Don’t Hide Your Heart 13 – Rez Band – Souls For Hire – Hostage 14 – Michele Pillar – Look Who Loves You Now – Look Who Loves You Now 15 – Steve Green – Praise To The King – He Holds The Keys 16 – John Michael Talbot – Lord Every Nation On Earth Shall Adore You
Tracklist 1 – Steve Camp – Help Is On The Way – 4:03 2 – Connie Scott – Spirit Mover – 3:20 3 – Silverwind – I’m Gonna Follow You – 2:59 4 – Rick Cua – You’ve Only Got One Life – 3:37 5 – Steve Taylor – I Just Wanna Know – 4:37 6 – Michael Card – Come To The Table – 3:48 7 – Terry Talbot – Mighty Rushing Wind – 4:11 8 – AD – The Only Way To Have A Friend – 4:15 9 – Debby Boone – Teach Me How To Love – 4:15 10 – Phil Driscoll – Jesus I Love You – 4:36 11 – Wendy & Mary – Around The Walls – 3:17 12 – Sheila Walsh – Light Across The World – 3:23 13 – Rez Band – Souls For Hire – 3:30 14 – Michele Pillar – Look Who Loves You Now – 3:18 15 – Steve Green – Praise To The King – 2:31 16 – John Michael Talbot – Lord Every Nation On Earth Shall Adore You (Psalm 72) – 4:14
Produced by Terry Talbot, this 1984 outing from Dennis is a different sort of foray into Country music. It includes two songs written by Steve Camp, and one co-written by Dennis and Terry Talbot. There is also a pseudo-country version of Bach’s Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring. Dennis has been referred to as a “guitar virtuoso” and this is a demonstration of why. In general, this album has a lot more prominent guitar work than earlier releases like Rebel To The Wrong. Backing vocalists on this album include Dennis Agajanian, Julie Miller, Matthew Ward, and Terry Talbot. Over a career spanning around 30 years, Dennis released over a dozen albums and spent some significant time contributing to Billy Graham crusades. This record has all the polish you would expect from a Terry Talbot project, and a smooth sounding Nashville country sound.
Tracklist 1 – If You Say – 2:37 2 – Via Dolorosa – 4:36 3 – Where Are The Heroes – 4:20 4 – The Tongue Is A Fire – 4:32 5 – Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring – 2:54 6 – She’s A Servant (Single And Living Alone) – 2:55 7 – Goodbye Old Man – 3:32 8 – Colleen’s Pirouette – 2:48 9 – I Will Never Leave You – 3:36 10 – All That I Am – 2:52
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Backing Vocals – Dennis Agajanian Backing Vocals – Julie Miller, Matthew Ward Bass – Abraham Laboriel, Scott Parish (tracks: A5) Drums – Bill Maxwell Electric Guitar – Michael Thompson Keyboards – Dennis Bouchard* Mastered By – Ken Pennell, Steve Hall Mixed By – Ron Capone Producer, Backing Vocals, Mixed By, Acoustic Guitar – Terry Talbot Recorded By [@ Poiema] – Bill Cobb Recorded By [@ Westwind] – Ron Capone
Companies, etc. Copyright (c) – The Sparrow Corporation Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Sparrow Corporation Record Company – Sparrow Records, Inc. Copyright (c) – Birdwing Music Copyright (c) – Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc. Copyright (c) – Paragon Music Corp. Recorded At – Poiema Studios Recorded At – Westwind Studio Mastered At – Future Disc
John Michael is joined by his brother Terry on this album along with The London Chamber Orchestra. It is in the usual Talbot style but with some great harmonies between the brothers. It has a Gothic feel at time which fits with art on the Jacket. If you’re a usual fan of John Michael this album won’t disappoint, you’ll find it to be excellent.
Tracklist
1 – Greeting – 1:44
2 – Wonderful Counselor – 2:37
3 – Advent Suite – Part 1 – 3:00
4 – Advent Suite – Part 2 – 2:22
5 – Behold Now The Kingdom – 3:55
6 – Create In Me A Clean Heart – 2:32
7 – Paint My Life – 1:51
8 – The Mystery – 2:24
9 – Jesus Has Come – 4:15
10 – The Empty Canvas – 3:50
Credits
Arranged By, Conductor – Lee Holdridge
Bass – Leland Sklar
Composed By – John Michael Talbot (tracks: A1-A5, B2-B5), Terry Talbot (tracks: B1)
Design – Stan Evenson Design Inc.
Engineer [@ CTS] – John Richards
Engineer [@ Monterey], Remix [@ Buckskin] – Wally Duguid
Engineer [@ TRC] – Mark Clevenger
Guitar – John Michael Talbot
Lacquer Cut By – Sh*
Photography By – Gary Heery
Producer – Dan Collins, Irving Martin, The Talbot Brothers*
Vocals – The Talbot Brothers*
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Cherry Lane Music Co.
Copyright (c) – Birdwing Music
Recorded At – TRC Studios
Recorded At – Monterey Sound Studios
Recorded At – CTS Studios
Remixed At – Buckskin Studio
Remixed At – Smoketree Ranch
Mastered At – MCA Recording Studios